Machine for extracting liquid from pulpous material



W. L. KINNEY AND W. E. CAGLE. MACHINE FOR EXTRACT'ING LIQUID FROM PULPOUS MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. I918.

1,330,71 l Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

4 SHEETSHEET l.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS W. L. KINNEY AND W. E. CAGLE.

MACHINE-FOR EXTRACTING LIQUID FROM PULPOUS MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I5, I918.

1 ,330/7 1 1 Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. INVENTO RS W 2% 04 a BY ATTORNEY W. L. KINNEY AND W. E. CAGLE.

MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING LIQUID FROM PULPOUS MATERIAL,

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, ms.

1 330,7 1 4 Patented Feb. 10, 192 0.

4 SHEETS-SHEET s.

, INVENTORS L. KINNEY AND w. E. CAGLE.

'MACHINE'FOR EXTRACHNG LIQUID FROM PULPOUS MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15,1918.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Fig la.

N R EJVE TO 5 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. KINNEY AND WILLIAM E. GAG-LE, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Application filed July 15, 1918. Serial No. 244,993.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, l/VILLIAM L. KINNEY and WILLIAM E. CAGLE, citizens; of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Extracting Liquid from Pulpous Material, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a machine for extracting liquid from pulpous material, and has particular relation to a machine particularly designed for the purpose of extracting oil from cotton seed meal.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described, which has been specially designed for the purpose of. extracting oil from the pulpous material produced by grinding and cooking cotton seed and embodies a compression chamber designed to receive press plates, which are interposed between quantities of said mate rial; a. plate rack or magazine; means for transferring the press plates from said magazine to the compression chamber; means for delivering the material from the heater onto the plates in said compression chamber; a pressure medium to compress the material in said chamber; means provided to maintain the pressure against said material in the compression chamber for any desired length of time; a mechanism for removing the plates singly from the chamber, when the pressure has been released; means for removing the material adhering to the plates after they have been removed from .the compression chamber; and a mechanism for redepositing the plates in the magazine and disposing of the refuse after the oil has been extracted therefrom.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a machine which may be operated continuously and which will per: form its various functions automatically.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1, shows a side elevation of the complete assembled machine, shown partially in section.

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary perspective view of the timing device.

Fig. 3, shows a fragmentary perspective view of the actuating gears.

Fig. t shows a fragmentary perspective View of the actuating gears, showing a reverse view to that shown in Fig Fig. 5, shows a fragmentary perspective view of the mechanism provided for removing the material adhering to the press plates.

Fig. 6, is a perspective detail of the clutch operating lever.

Fig. 7, shows a fragmentary perspective View of the actuating cams, and the controlling valve associated therewith.

Fig. 8, shows a fragmentary perspective view of the valve trip of the filler block elevator.

Fig. 9, shows a fragmentary perspective view of the heater slide trip, and

Figs. 10, 11 and 12, show, respectively, an end elevation, a side elevation and a plan view of the follower, and a portion of the main cylinder and the lift screw gearing associated therewith.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1, refers to a main drive shaft rotatable in suitable bearings, carried by the framework of the machine, to which rotation is imparted through a pulley fixed thereon, or by any other suitable means. The numeral 2 refers to a screw shaft, a section of which is formed into fine threaded screws, and fixed upon this shaft is the screw gear 3, which is in mesh with the worm gear 4, which is fixed upon the shaft 5. This last mentioned shaft is rotatably mounted'in suitable bearings, carried by the framework of the machine, and fixed upon the shafts 1 and 5 and arranged in alinement are the sprocket wheels 6, 6, over which operates the sprocket chain, 7, through which rotation is imparted to the shaft 5, from the shaft 1. The shaft 2 is operatively connected with the coarsely threaded screw 9, forming a section of the shaft 15d, through the train of intermeshi-ng gears 8, and by means of which said last mentioned shaft is rotated at a high rate of speed. A lever 10 is provided which is slidably mounted upon the shaft 11, said shaft being rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame of the device. This lever extends each way from the shaft on which it is mounted and carries at one end, a half nut 12, provided to mesh with the screw shaft 2, but which is shown out of mesh in Fig. 2. The other end of the lever 10 carries a half nut 13, provided to mesh with the screw 9, and shown in mesh therewith in Fig. 2. On opposite sides of the framework of the timing device, as shown in Fig. 2, are the bars 14 14, which are mounted upon spring seated plungers 15. These bars are arranged reversely and their inner ends are downwardly curved. Upon one side, 18, of said framework, there is a stop bar 16, which is adjustable lengthwise relative to the framework, and fixed upon the shaft 11 is a lever 17, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

For the purpose of automatically controlling the operation of the machine, a con trolling device shown in Fig. 7 has been provided. The numeral 28 designates the main shaft of the device, which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings, carried by the framework of the machine, and whereon is mounted a drum 29, which is provided with the cam shaped grooves 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37. Fixed upon the shaft 28 is a screw gear 27, which is in mesh with a corresponding screw gear 26, which is fixed upon the shaft 25. This shaft is in alinement with the shaft 5, and the adjacent ends of said shafts carry the clutch 'members 23 and 24, the former of which is slidable and the latter of which is fixed upon their respective shafts. The slidable clutch member is operated through the pivotedly mounted clutch lever 19, one end of which is con nected to the clutch member 23, and the other end of which is provided with a roller 30. The clutch lever 19 is manipulated through the rods 20 and 21, and the roller 30 normally rides on the end of the drum 29, and the clutch lever 19 is thereby operated to hold the members 23 and 24 in mesh so as to clutch the shaft 25 with the shaft 5, for the purpose of imparting rotation from the latter to the former, and thereby imparting rotation through the gears 26 and 27 to the shaft 28. Shifting rods 21 and 22 are pivoted at one end to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the clutch lever 19, and at their other ends, these rods are pivoted to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the lever 17, and the end of the drum 19 adjacent the lever 17 is provided with a slot 31 into which the roller 30 drops, to permit the disengagement of the clutch member 23 from its co-acting member 24.

Associated with the drum 29, and actuated by the cams carried thereby are the levers 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, and 44, all pivotedly mounted and the purpose and operation of which will be hereinafter described.

The numeral 46 designates a valve having the outlet pipes 47 and 48, and the inlet pipe 49. \Vhen power is applied to the shaft 1, it operates through the mechanism hereinbefore described to impart rotation to the drum 29, and thereupon the cam groove 34 actuates the lever 40, which, in turn, operates the rod 45, thereby controlling the valve 46, to admit pressure from the inlet pipe 49, through the outlet pipe 47 to the cylinder 145. This cylinder is fixed rela tive to the framework of the machine and is provided with a plunger 52, which is connected to and reciprocates the trans fer carriage 57. This carriage is provided with a cross head 54, and suitable bearings which operate on the guide bars 55, 55, as a track.

The numeral 86 refers to a plate rack or magazine within which the press plates, 144, are deposited, said plates being of any desired form, and the magazine being of a contour to receive said plates. The numeral 105 designates a vertical compression chamber, which is formed of open cage work, and so located that the transfer carriage will move back and forth across said chamber and across the press plate magazine. The transfer carriage 57 is provided with an openin 58, which alines over the compression chamber 105, but when said carriage is driven forward to the limit of its movement, said opening will aline over the magazine 86, at which point the roller 72 on the carriage 57 trips the lever 73, thereby exerting an upward pull on the rod 74. The lower end of this rod is connected to the U- shaped lever 75, whose outer arm actuates the clutch member 76, and operatively connects the spur gear 76 with the shaft 78 whereon it is loosely mounted. The spur gear 79 is fixed upon the shaft 78 and may be operatively connected with the shaft 1, and is driven thereby through a train of spur gears, and the gear 7 6 is in mesh with the spur gear 7 7, which is fixed on the shaft 77. This last mentioned shaft has the pinion 7 8, fixed thereon, which is in mesh with a corresponding pinion 79, which is fixed upon the vertical shaft 80. The upper end of this last mentioned shaft has a spur gear 81, fixed thereon, which is in mesh with the spur gear 82, which is connected to the nut 83, threaded onto the vertical shaft 84. This nut is anchored in a bearing in the lower end of the plate magazine 86. To the upper end of this shaft 84, a platen 85 has a swiveling connection, said platen being movable vertically in the plate rack and supporting the plates therein, and as the nut 83 is rotated, the shaft 84 and the platen 85 are elevated carrying the upper plate into the opening 58, of the transfer carriage 57. While the nut 83 is rotated, the inner arm of the lever 75 rides upon the flange bearing 90, on theinner side of'the gear wheel 76, but when the plate 14% enters the opening 58,-said'arm has reached and drops into the notch 91, in said bearing to disengage the clutch 7 6, and-stop the rotation of the nut 88. p v

A collar'56 is fixed on the-rod 53, and pivoted to the casing of the valve 46, is a valve lever 50. Upon the elevationof the plate 144-, into the opening 58, the collar 56 contacts with the valve lever 50, actuating the valve and admitting pressure through the pipes 49, and 48, to the other end'of the cylinder145, thereby actuating the plunger 52, in the opposite direction and reversing the'movement of the transfer carriage which carries with it the plate in the opening thereof. Thereupon the roller 73 contacts with 'the lever 87, which is pivoted to the framework of the m achine,and whose lower endis turned outwardly at-right angles, and pivoted thereto is the upper end of the rod 88. Thelower end ofthis rod 88 is pivoted to a U-shaped lever 89, similar to the lever 75. 'The outer arm of this lever manipulates a clutch 90, whereby the loosely mounted. spur gear wheel 91 is clutched withthe'shaft "78, whereon it is mounted. This-gear wheel 91 when clutched with its shaft, drives the spur gear wheel 92, fixed on the shaft 77. The'shaft 77 hasthe pinion 93 fixedthereon, which is in mesh with the pinion 95L, fixed onthe vertical shaft 95.

The'upper end of the shaft 95 is opera- -35 tively connected with the transverse shaft 98 through the intermeshing gears 96 and 97. This shaft 98 is rotatably mounted in suit able bearings, and has the worm gear 99 fixed thereon, which is in mesh with the worm gear 100, into which the nut 101 is formed. This nutis threaded onto the outwardlythreaded vertical. shaft 102, which extends upwardly through the compression chamber, and its upper end operates the platen 10%. Upon the return of the transfer carriage 57, when the opening 58 alines abovethe platen 104, the plate 144- is de posited on said platen and the mechanism is so geared that the nut 101 will be rotated sufiiciently to'lower the platen 10%, and the plate 14A thereon, into the compression chamber a sufficient distance to provide space to receive a charge of the meal on top of said plate. During this.operation, the inner arm of the lever 89 rides upon awbeari'n'g flange 90 on the inner side of the spur gear wheel 91. This bearingfiange has a notch 91, and when the inner arm ofthe lever 89 drops into said notch,tlie outer'arm thereof operates to declutc-h' the gear wheel 91 from its shaft, and to stop the rotation of the shaft'77, and the operation of the mechanism driven thereby, with the result that the rotation of the nut l0l isstopped, and the'pl'aten 104 remains temporarily stationary Meanwhile the cam groove 36 actuates the lever 42. This lever 'is operatively connected with and elevates the cam block 67, into thepath of the roller 63. Mounted in vertically alin'ed hearings on each side of the charging chamber 59 of the transfer carriage 57, are the plungers 6'6, 66, and the lower end of one of these plunger-s carries said roller 63. A transverse shaft '65 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings, carried by the charging chamber 59, and fixed to the ends thereof, are the arms 64, 64:, whose free ends have bearings through which the 'plungers 66, 66, extend. "When the cam block 67 comes in contact with the roller 63, it operates to elevate a corresponding plunger, which through the arms 6% andthe shaft 65, operates to simultaneously elevate the other plunger. The numeral 62 refers to a heater wherein the material to be treated is first cooked, and one e-ndof said heater is formed into a discharge hopper 61, which is controlled by a sliding door 60. When the plungers 66, 66, are elevated, asdescribed, their upper ends project into bearings 60, provided at the sides of said door, and as the transfer carriage moves on back said door is moved back with it, carrying the opening therethrough into alinement with the discharge hopper 61, and permitting a discharge of the treated material to fall into the charging chamber 59. Thereupon the valve 46 is again opened, as hereinbefore explained, permitting the motive fluid to pass from the inlet pipe 49 through the outlet pipe 47, to the cylinder 145, driving the plunger and the transfer carriage 57 forwardly. Said transfer carriage carries the sliding door 60 forwardly with it so as to close the discharge hopper '61, and thereupon the roller 63 passes off of the cam block 67, disengaging the plungers 66, 66, from the sliding door 60, and leaving the discharge hopper closed. As the transfer carriage passes over the compression chamber 105, the con tents of the charging chamber are deposited in'the compression chamber upon the plate 144i, as shown in Fig. 1. Just as the charging chamber 59 passes clear of the compression chamber 105, the valve 71 of the cylinder is opened. The opening of this valve is effected by means of the cam groove 35, which manipulates the lever $1, which is operatively connected with said valve 71. The plunger 69 of the cylinder'70 is there upon driven downwardly carrying the platen 68, on the lower end thereof, downwardly against the charge of material, on the plate 14%, and compressing the same into a cake, and the continuous operation of the cam groove 35 against'the lever 41, operates to now open the valve 71, to admit steam into the cylinder 7 0, reversing the direction of the movement of the plunger 69, and withdrawing the platen 68, to its original position. As the transfer carriage 57 continues to move forwardly, the roller 72 thereof again trips the lever 73, thereby resulting in the further rotation of the nut 83, as hereinbefore explained, and the elevation of another plate 144 into the opening 58, and upon the return movement of the transfer carriage, as explained, said plate will be withdrawn from the plate rack and deposited in the compression chamber, in the manner above explained. The operation of the device will be continued until all of the plates are transferred from the plate rack to the compression chamber, and there disposed between charges of the material to be compressed.

The continued rotation of the drum 29 will cause the cam groove 37 to actuate the piv'otedly mounted lever 43. This lever has a laterally extending arm to the free end of which, one end of therod 147 is pivoted. The other end of this fod is pivoted to the free end of the laterally extending arm carried by the lever 146. This lever is pivotedly mounted, and operatively connected with the tumbler gears 145, and when the cam groove 37 actuates the lever 43, the mechanism just described will operate to throw said tumbler gears 145 out of mesh, disengaging the shaft 1, from the lifting screw 84, which temporarily remains inoperative.

The lever 39 is actuated by the cam groove 33, and has a laterally extending arm to the free end of which, one end of the rod 133 is pivoted. The other end of this rod is pivoted to the free end of the lever 134. This last mentioned lever is pivoted to the top of the plate magazine and has a laterally extending arm 134, to the free end of which the plunger carriage 135 is pivoted. Fixed to and upstanding from this carriage are the plungers 135, which are spaced apart, and extend upwardly through suitable bearings in the top plate of the plate magazine, and the upper ends are formed into bearings through which the push rod 136 operates. The cam groove 33 is so formed that it actuates the lever 39, and the rod 133 to elevate the push rod 136, into the path of the lug 137, after the last plate has been deposited in the compression chamber. The lug 137 projects out laterally from the transfer carriage 57, and as said carriage continues its forward movement, the lug will contact against the end of the push rod 136, and force the same against--the lever 139, which is fixed upon the stem of the valve 148, with the result that the pressure will be released in the cylinder 130, thereby lowering the filler block 143, into the opening 58 of the carriage 57, and upon the return of said carriage, said filler block is carried with it to fill the space between the top of the compression chamber and the head block 149 of the press. The cam block 67 having been tripped, the sliding door 60 will remain closed to prevent any further discharge of the material from the heater 62. Thereupon the cam groove 32 actuates the lever 44, said lever having a laterally extending arm to the free end of which one end of the rod 153 is pivoted. The other end of this rod is pivoted to the free end of the lever 152, which has a laterally extending arm to the free end of which the upper end of the vertical rod 151 is piv oted. The lower end of this last mentioned rod is pivoted to the valve lever 150, and through this mechanism, said valve 106 is opened from the cam groove 32, and pressure is admitted through the pipe 107 to the cylinder 108. The plunger 109 and the follower block mounted thereon are forced upwardly in the compression chamber to apply pressure to the contents thereof. As the plunger moves upwardly, the rack 151, carried thereby, rotates the gear 152, which is in mesh therewith and through a train of gears rotates the nut 101, on the screw 102 in the reverse direction, so that the plates and the platen 104 remain stationary until the follower 103 comes into contact with the lower side of the platen 104. The plunger 109 continuing upwardly, exerts pressure against the material in the compression chamber and the oil or other liquid therein is forced out through the cage-like walls of the compression chamber. At this point, the roller 30, carried by the free end of the clutch lever 19, drops into the slot 31, in

the adjacent end of the drum 29, allowing.

the bar 14 to force the corresponding end of the lever 10 upwardly, and through the shaft 11, the lever 17 and the rod 21 dis engages the clutch member 23 from the clutch member 24, stopping the rotation of the drum 29. The lever 10 being now engaged through the nut 12 with the screw 2, is moved laterally along the shaft 11, the screw running at a very low speed, and the extension 10 on said lever 10 runs under the adjustable stop plate 16, which has been set so that when the lever 10 reaches the end of the plate 16, the length of time necessary for the material to beheld under compression shall have expired. The extension 10' engages with the bar 14 before it is released by the plate 16, and upon said release, the bar throws the lever 10 upward, operatively connecting said lever with the screw 9, through the half nut 13. At the same time, the shaft 11 is partially rotated, which opcrates through the lever 17 and the rods 21 and 22 to lift the roller 30 from the slot 31, and to again engage the clutch members 23 and 24 thus again starting the rotation of the drum 29. The screw 9 running at a high rate of speed and being coarsely threaded, quickly returns the half nut 13 to the blank portion of the shaft 154 and enages it over the plunger bar14, where it is Jeld until the slot 31 again comes into aline ment with the roller 30, which drops therein, thereby again permitting the disengagement of the clutch member 23 from the clutch member 24 through the influence of the plunger bar 14. In the meantime, the valve 106 is opened through the controlling mechanism hereinbefore described, and thereby releasing the pressure in the cylinder 108, and permittingthe plunger 109 and the follower 103 to return to their original positions. As the plunger returns, the rack 151 operates the screw shaft 102 through the operative mechanism hereinbefore described to hold the platen 104 and the plates stationary. The valve 46 is 'again opened through the mechanism hereinbefore described, and the transfer carriage 57 travels forward, the sliding door 60 remaining in stationary position to close the discharge hopper 61. As the carriage 57 moves forward, it carries with it, the filler block 143, and alines the same over the magazine 86. The forward end of the filler blockcarries a pawl 155, which thereupon contacts with the upper end of the lever 139, and opens the valve 148, admitting pressure from the pipe 132, through the pipe 131, to the cylinder130. A plunger 142 operates in said cylinder, and by the pressure therein, is elevated. Fixed to this plunger is an elevator 141, having the depending hooks 156 over which the side flanges of the filler block 143 engage when said block is moved into alinement with the plate magazine, and when the plunger 142 is elevated, the hooks engage with. and elevate saidfi-ller block into its original position. As the carriage 57 returns, the cam groove 33 operates the lever 38. This lever has a laterally extending arm tothe free end of which one end of the rod 110 is pivoted, and the other end of this rod is pivoted to the free end of the downwardly extending arm of the lever 111. This lever is connected to, the valve stem of the valve 112, and through this operation of said cam groove 33, said valve'is opened, admitting pressure to the cylinder 113. ()perating in this cylinder is a plunger 114, which is connected to a vertically movable frame, wherein the cutter roll 116 isrotatably mounted. When pressure is admitted to the cylinder 113, its plunger is forced downwardly, lowering the cutter roll to position to just clear the carriage 57. The frame 115 is provided with a cam 121, which acts against one end of the operating lever 120, to slide the gear 119., splined on the shaft 119 intomesh with the rack 118,-carried by the carriage '57-, as said carriage approaches the end ofits forward stroke. The tumbler gearsl45 are then thrown intoac tive position through the actuating mechanism hereinbefore described, and the shaft 102 is intermittently rotated to elevate the platen 104, thus elevating the plates 144, in the compression chamber, one at a time into the opening 58, of the carriage 57, each plate carrying a cake of the compressed material thereon, said cake projecting above the carriage. As the carriage again moves forward, a spur gear 117 fixed on the shaft of the cutter roll meshes with the rack 118, thus causing the roll to rotate. This cutter roll has circumferential and longitudinal cutters on its periphery which cut the cake into sections. The outer end of the shaft 119 carries a pinion 122, which is in mesh with the pinion 123, fixed upon end of the shaft 123. The other end of this last mentioned shaft has a pinion 124, fixed thereon, which is in mesh with the beveled gear 126. This beveled gear carries a crank 125, which is fixed thereto, and to the free end of which, one end of the connecting rod 127 is pivoted. The other end of this connecting rod is pivoted to a long brush 128, and through the operating mechanism described, said brush is reciprocated across the plates 144, sweeping the material of the cake ofl of said plate, and into any suitable conveyer, not shown, by means of which the same is disposed of. The tumbler gears 145, having been reversed, the nut 83 will be rotated intermittently to lower the shaft 84, as the plates are deposited on the platen85, and the operation is continued until all of the plates are redepositedin the magazine 86. The lever 38, being again actuated by the cam groove 33, will operate the valve 112, admitting pressure to elevate the plunger 114, and the cutter roll 116, returning said roll to its original position. The lever 20, being thereby released by the cam 121, the gear wheel 119 will be carried out of mesh with the rack 118, by means of a pull spring 157, one end of which is attached to. the lever 120, and the other end of which is secured to, the magazine covering. As the machine continues to operate, the cam block 67, will be again elevated as described, and thereupon the material will be again fed in charges upon the plates 144, as they are again deposited in the compression chamber as hereinbefore described.

What we claim is 1. A device of the character described, including a compression chamber, a plate rack, means for transferring the plates singly from said rack and depositing them in said compression chamber, and means for delivering uncompressed material into the compression chamber and onto said plates successively as the plates are deposited. therein.

2 A device of the character described,

including a compression chamber, a plate rack, means for transferring the plates singly from said rack and depositing them in said compression chamber, and means for delivering uncompressed material into the compression chamber and onto said plates successively as the plates are deposited therein, and means for applying pressure to the material interposed between said plates in said compression chamber.

3. A device of the character described, includinga compression chamber, a press plate magazine designed to contain press plates, a transfer mechanism arranged to engage with said plates, and transfer them singly into the compression chamber, means for depositing the uncompressed material in said compression chamber onto said plates successively, an intermittently operating mechanism arranged to elevate the plates from said magazine into position to be engaged by said transfer mechanism, and means provided for the application of pressure to the material interposed between the plates in said compression chamber.

4:. A device of the character described, including a compression chamber, a plate rack or magazine, a transfer mechanism, means for reciprocating said transfer mechanism back andforth relative to said magazine and chamber, said mechanism being arranged to engage with said plates and automatically transfer them back and forth from the magazine to the chamber and vice versa.

5. A device of the character described, including a compression chamber, a plate magazine wherein press plates are stored, a transfer mechanism, means for elevating the plates singly from said magazine into engagement with said transfer mechanism, means in the compression chamber for sustaining the plates deposited therein by said transfer mechanism, a mechanism for withdrawing said means into said chamber, as the plates are deposited therein, to provide space for the reception of said plates, means depositing material to be compressed into said compression chamber between said plates, means for applying pressure to the material so deposited in said chamber. means for reversing the operation of the withdrawing mechanism, to elevate the plates in said chamber into position to be engaged by said transfer mechanism, and means for reversing the operating of the plate elevating means to lower said plates in said magazine.

6. A device of the character described, including a compression chamber, a press plate magazine, a transfer mechanism, for transferring said plates singly from the magazine to the compression chamber, a mechanism for lowering the plates in the compression chamber, to provide space therein for the reception of material to be compressed, means for delivering said material in charges into said space thus formed upon said plates, as they are deposited in said chamber, a mechanism for compressing each charge as delivered, and means for applying pressure to the entire mass of material delivered into said chamber.

7 A device of the character described, including a compression chamber, a press plate magazine, a transfer mechanism for transferring said plates singly from the magazine to the compression chamber, a mechanism for lowering the plates in the compression chamber, to provide space therein for the reception of material to be compressed, means for delivering said material in charges into said space thus formed upon said plates, as they are deposited in said chamber, a mechanism for compressing each charge as delivered, means for applying pressure to the entire mass of material delivered into said chamber, and an automatic timing device, governing the length of time said material remains under compression.

8. A device of the character described, including a compression chamber, a press plate magazine wherein press plates are stored, a transfer mechanism, for transferring plates singly from said magazine to said compression chamber and for retransferring them from said compression chamber to said magazine, a container for material, means for delivering material from said container in charges, and depositing the charges upon the respective plates, after they have been deposited in said compression chamber, so as to interpose the charges of material between the respective plates in said chamber, an intermittently operating mechanism for elevating the plates in said magazine to bring them singly into engagement with said transfer mechanism, means for reversing said elevated mechanism to lower said plates in said magazine, an intermittently operating mechanism for lowering said plates into the compression chamber as they are delivered from said transfer mechanism, means for reversing the direction of the operation of said withdrawing mechanism to elevate said plates in said compression chamber to bring them singly into engage ment with said transfer mechanism.

9. A device of the character described, including a compression chamber, a plate rack wherein press plates are stored, means for transferring the plates singly from said rack and depositing them in said compression chamber, means for delivering uncompressed material onto the respective plates successively after they have been deposited in said compression chamber, means for applying pressure to the material interposed between said plates in said chamber, an automatically timing device controlling said pressure applying means and means for automatically retransferring said plates from said chamber to said rack.

10. A device of the character described, including a compression chamber, a plate rack for containing press plates, means for transferring said plates singly in said rack and depositing them in said compression chamber, means for delivering material to be compressed onto the respective plates, after they have been deposited in said chamber, means for applying pressure to the material between said plates in said chamber, a mechanism actuating the transferring means whereby said plates, and the compressed material carried thereby are retransferred singly to said rack, and a cleaning device for removing the material carried by the said plates therefrom, before the plates are redeposited in said rack.

11. A device of the character described, including a compression chamber, press plates, means for depositing said plates singly in said compression chamber, a container for the material to be compressed, means for delivering charges of the material from said container into said compression chamber, alternately with the delivery of press plates therein so as to interpose the charges of material between the plates in said chamber, means for applying pressure to the material in said compression chamber, means for removing said plates and the compressed material thereon singly from said chamber, and a mechanism for removing said material from said respective plates.

12. A device of the character described,

including a compression chamber, a plate rack wherein press plates are stored, a material container, a transfer mechanism, means for elevating the plates in said rack so as to bring them singly into engagement -With said transfer mechanism, means operating said transfer mechanism to transfer said plates singly from said rack to said compression chamber, a material conveyer arranged to receive charges of material from said container and deliver the same onto the respective plates deposited in said chamber, means for lowering said plates and material into the compression chamber, a device automatically applying pressure to the contents of said chamber, when a pre-determined quantity of material has been delivered thereto, an automatically timing device controlling said pressure applying means, means for reversing the operation of the withdrawing means, to project said plates singly from said chamber, and into enga ement with said transfer mechanism, whereby the plates are retransferred singly from said chamber and redeposited into said rack, and a device for removing the compressed material adhering to the plates before they are redelivered to said rack.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM L. KINNEY. WILLIAM E. CAGLE.

Witnesses Lee. W. OLIVER, E. V. HARDWAY. 

